Maybe you just want to learn a few new culianry techniques? Here's an interesting press release I just found on in-home classes being offered by Chef Instructors of the Art Institutes.
Press Release Source: The Art Institutes
Invite a Chef, Invite Your Friends and Have a Cooking Class Dinner PartyMonday February 14, 5:08 am ET
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Who wouldn't love to have a chef come to their home and prepare dinner for a small group of friends?
That's exactly what's happening in one of the latest trends in at-home entertaining. At this cozy get together though, the chef isn't the only one preparing dinner. In fact, he's teaching guests how to create a delicious dinner and learn a few culinary techniques in the process. At the end of the evening, guests sit down to sample their accomplishments.
For
Chef Janet Canfield of The Art Institute of Atlanta, cooking class dinner parties are a unique and intimate way to share the fun of cooking, as well as a great way to teach culinary techniques.
"Even though the evening is a lot of fun, most of the guests are really interested in learning how to prepare a dish, or trying out a new cooking method," she says. For Chef Canfield, the optimum party is 8 to 10 people, with a kitchen large enough to accommodate the crowd, as well as the chef.
Participants usually break into groups of two to complete the menu, which can either be designed by the chef, or in consultation with the host. Usually an appetizer, entree and dessert can be prepared in one evening.
"This is a very relaxed environment," says Chef Canfield, "Although I do give the guests a timeline, I don't push them. It's not like a culinary school situation," she says.
Fun food is the goal of Chef Marc Weiss's cooking class dinner party events. "I don't believe in making these evenings too fancy, like incorporating truffles," he says. "It's just not practical for most people."
Instead, Weiss, a graduate of
The Art Institute of New York City, likes to encourage menus that incorporate simpler, yet still sophisticated dishes like, Pistachio Crusted Salmon and Orange-Ginger Glazed Shrimp. When Chef Weiss works at a dinner party cooking class event, he either purchases all the ingredients, or gives a complete list to the host, whichever they prefer.
For Chef Weiss, dinner parties that turn into cooking classes are just an outgrowth of how he entertains at home. "Everybody's watching cooking on television, and so the interest is as high as ever. Cooking for me has always been about entertainment," says Weiss.
Costs can vary, depending on the menu. In general, chefs either charge per couple, or individual. Prices usually do not include wine or spirits, unless the host asks the chef to select wines to have with specific dishes. Many chefs do preparation in advance of the party, especially if any items require marinating or, in the case of homemade bread, dough rising.
Chef Cynthia Stowers, a culinary arts instructor at
The Art Institute of Washington likes to use fish recipes for small dinner party cooking class events. "The recipes are nice because they are each an entire meal, so they work well if you're trying to 'teach' a group of people how to do something," she says. For dessert, Stowers likes a simple chocolate tart that complements many of her fish dishes. [recipes follow].
To find a chef who will conduct cooking classes for a small group of dinner guests, try contacting a culinary school, caterer, party planner or even a food reporter at the local newspaper who usually knows many chefs in the area and can provide contact information.
As Chef Canfield says, "This is a great alternative to the traditional catered dinner party. Everyone is interested in the outcome of the food without having to shop, prepare, or present it alone!"
The Art Institutes system of 31 education institutions is located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The Art Institutes system of schools has provided career-oriented education programs for 40 years with more than 170,000 graduates. For more information visit The Art Institutes website at
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/nr .
Recipes Courtesy of Chef Cynthia Stowers
The Art Institute of Washington
